Apparatus for casting metals.



G. A. HOWE.

APPARATUS FOR. CASTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3, 1911.

1,058,059. A Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR JRMa/mney GAHoWlJ.

G. A. HOWE.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1911.

Am 2 mm 1 w aw m0 6 PT H Am m f r dn 0 Aw P I N UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.--

GEORGE anown, or rinrsnuaon, PENNsYLvAinA.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS.

' invention has for its primary object to provide an apparatus for economically and ex peditiously drawing metal into every nook, corner and cranny of a matrix or an investment,thereby obtaining most perfect reproductions, without the ordinary and well known conditions endangering the result.

' A further object of the invention is to utilize an air compressor or pump for proor a supply of air in a blowpipe, or both as occasion may demand.

The invention in its broadest aspect aims to facilitate the dental practice of producing cast structures of metal, it being a well known fact that difficulty is experienced in properly fusing metal, in maintaining the metal at a proper temperature that it will readily flow by gravity into a matrix or in- 'been devised for creating a blast vestment, and in obtaining a result that is satisfactory in all instances.

I am aware that numerous devices have or vacuum beneath a matrix or an investment for drawing the molten metal into the cavity of the matrix or investment, but such devices have been spasmodic and sudden in their operation' to the detriment of a perfect reproduction. For instance, as the operation is invisible, it is impossible to determine whether the molten metal has entered every nook and corner of the matrix, consequently a large percentage of castings are imperfect and useless on account of the sudden blast or vacuum not be ng of sufliclent endurance to completely draw the metal into the cavity.

In devising my method of casting, I utilize a continuous vacuum producing apparatus that insures a continuous suction at the bottom of the matrix or investment when the latter is brought into communication with the apparatus, and consequently the molten metal is drawn into every nook and Specification of Letters Patent.

' to rotate therewith is a circular head 3 Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed March 3, 1911. Serial No. 612,019.

corner of the matrix or'investmen t cavity.

A perfect reproduction is thus made that conforms in every detail to the contour of the cavity in which it is molded. I 6 The apparatus will behereinafter specifically described and then particularly claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated.

a preferred embodiment of'the invention,

but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof are susceptible. to such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the investment holder, Fig.4 is a longitudinalsectional view of the air compressor, Fig. 5 is a verticalcross sectional view of the same, and Figs. 6and 7 are detail sectional views of the two-way valve forming part of the apparatus. ducing a vacuum in an investment holder The reference numeral 1 denotes an elec-l trically operated latheor other source of 30 power adapted to imparta notary movement to a tapering spindle 2 and detachably mounted upon said spindle and adated aving a tapering socket 4-t0 receive the spindle 2. The head 3 is inclosed by a sectional metallic casing, comprising a cylindrical shell 5 and end plates 6 and 7 suitably connected to-said shell,the end plate 6 having an open- .ing for the hub s of the head 3. The metallic casing is arranged eccentrically relatively to the head 3, 'therebyproviding a crescent-shaped compressingchamber 9, the

air. within said chamber being com ressed through the medium of a plurality 0 spring pressed slides or valves 10 that are normally retained in engagement with the inner walls of the shell 5 by springs 11. The shell 5 has an air inlet nozzle 12 and an air outlet nozzle 13, and the elements 3 to 13 inclusive constitute an air compressorthat serves functionally, two purposes,.namely that of creating a continuous suction or vacuum and that of supplying air to a blowpipe or for other purposes, I i

The air inlet nozzle 12 is connected by r a flexible conduit or tube 14 to the nipple 15 of a two-way valve, said valve comprising a sectional pedestal lfihaving the sections thereof connected by screws 17 or otherfas- 11 0 tening means. The confronting faces of the valve sections are provided with vertical grooves 18 constituting a bore for a tubular valve stem 19 frictionally heldbetween sa1d sections. The upper end of thevalve stem has a suitable lmob or handle 20 and intermediatethe tubular valve stem there is a partition 21. The walls of the. valve stem I above the partition are provided with oppo- Isitely disposed'openings 22 and the wall beneath said partition with a single opening 23. The lower end of the valve stem is open and is adapted to receive air admitted to the base of the valve through notches 24 provided thereforin the lower edge of the pedestal. The section of the pedestal opposite the nipple 15 is provided with a nipple 25 the outer end of a pipe-28 located in the base 29 of an investment or matrix holder.

The inner end of the ipe 28 is connected by I an elbow 30 to the re uced end 31 of a stand pipe 32 mounted in the base 29. Thiupper end of the stand'pipe 32 has a circular head 33 provided with a seat 34 and a concavity- 35, said concavity bein with the flexible condult or tube 26. De} tachably mounted upon .the seat 34 of the head 33 is a taperingvholder. 36 adapted to taimn contain a matrix or lnvestment 37'which is made of the ordinary and well lmown porous composition, the matrix or investment com a cavity 38 which has been previously ormed by a disappearing mold.

The nozzle 13 is connected to aregulator.

or valve 39 of a conventional form, and this I regulator is connected by a flexible conduit or tube 40 to a conventional form of blow! pipe 41 receiving a supply of gas through a.

flexible conduit or hose 42.

Operation-:.When the tubular valve stem 19 is raised and communication established between the atmosphere and the ni ple 15. by the opening 23, air can be readily the air compressor and supplied to the blowpipe 41 when the compressor is placed in operation. It is therefore obvious that air can: be supplied to the blowpipe, whereby it can rposes other' than with be use wfor various I I the investmenthol e121 When it is desired to.ma'ke a casting, the metalisplaced upon the top of the investmentcr'matrix and sub- .jected to the flame of; theblowpipe fwhich melts the. same anditis' -in this connection that a continuous sup ly o'ifiir to the blow- 'pi e will permit-of t e blow; ipe properly m ting'.the ihetal irwh nf .atpointh been reached that the. in it .rfiblten condition,;,.the operator immediately pushes bits the-tubular valve stem 19 in. communication:

awn into' of the two-way valve, thereby "shutting off I I end of the tubular valve stem 19 and'placin the air compressor incommlmication tn the head 33 and the investment holder'36l Theair compressor then receives its supply the supply of atmosphere through the lower i of air through the porous matrix or invest- I mentand the suction created by theair compressor draws the molten metal into every part of the cavity 38, causing'the metal tov remain in engagement with the walls of the cavity until cool. This is due to the factthat the air compressor maintains a cont-mu-- ous vacuum until the tubdlar valve stem 19 is .again raised. 1 The electric lathe can be operated at any desired speed,- consequently the exact amount of air supplied to the blowpipe 41 or the'i'nten'sity of the continuous vacuum inthe head 33 can be regulated. The supply of gas to the 'blowpipe 41 can be regulated in the ordinary manner, while the regulation of the air may be by the valve 39 and the size of theopenings 22'and23.

From the foregomg it will be observed that after placing the electric lathe in operation, the first step is the placing of the metal I upon the matrix or investment, "then'subjecting the metal to the flame of the blowpipe until it has been broughtto the proper stage .of fluidity, and then drawing: the molten metal into the cavity of the matrix'orI investment by constant and steady vacuum that causes-every nook and corner of the cavity to be filled, whereby the casting will conform in all'respects to the contour oithe original mold.

What is claimed is 1. In apparatus of the character described I an investment holder? a blow-pipe, and

means intermediate sai parts and connected thereto for supplying air under. pressure to the blow-pipe, said means'receivmg its air supply through the investment holder or mdependently thereof at will. I

, 2. In apparatus 'of the character 'descrlbed an investment holder, a blow-pipe, an

means intermediate said parts and ther'eto for supplying air underzpressure to the blowp'ipe,,said means receiving itsaii supply from the investment holder or independently thereof at' will, and manually-operated means located within theconnections for controlling the source of air sup ly. I

3. In apparatus of the'chara'cter. escribed,

an investment holder, a blow-pipe, a'device for supplying air under ressure to said blow-pipe, and connections etweensaid de' vice and the investment holder, said OQIIIIOO.

'tions including an element adapted to control communication between the parts so connected and an indepeendent source of air sup- Sly, said element ingjs'hiltable sup e device through the investment or said independent source at will.

, 4. In apparatus of thechaeacterdescribed,

under for supplying air ections blow-p1 e and 00 ressure to said tween said device an the invest ent holder, said connec- 5 tions including an element adapted to control communication between the parts so connected and an independent source of air an ply, said element 10 said independent source at g shiftable to su p y the device through the investment or om will, said device being positioned to provide a suction operation on the investment when the latter is placed in communication therewith through the element. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE -A. HOWE. -Witnesses:

MAX H..Snomvrrz, CHRISTINA T. Hoou. 

